OLPCorps MIT Mauritania Bababe Project Specifics

From OLPC

Note: Our team worked in close collaboration with the MIT Mauritania Kaedi team. We were orginally one team, but decided to go to two locations to have a greater impact on the children of Mauritania. Thus, we may have some overlap in general trip details, although our proposals are distinct.

Educational System

Educational system is comparatively strong in Bababé compared to the rest of Mauritania: the school director cares about the schools

In many cases though, Governmental corruption hinders education in public schools

School directors are placed in their positions and are known for selling books, desks, etc. that are supposed to go to the children. Nothing makes it to the kids.

For example, every few years, the national institute of pedagogy will rewrite text books. They were supposed to given to schoolchildren for free. All books ended up on black market and people had to pay for them.

Education is valued in Mauritania. In surveys done, the 2 things people want for kids is computer training and girls education.

Not many girls continue on to higher education: they are often expected to have families at the age of 12-14. They also have to take a test at the end of high school that determines whether or not they can go to universities.

Kids can't afford pens and pencils and books, so a lot of education is based on memorization

The government has tried new laws in schools:

kids aren't allowed to be menial laborers or be beaten

One of the biggest problems is that teachers are unhappy

They are randomly assigned to posts/teaching positions

If they do not integrate well into the community, they often just do not show up to class or have lesson plans at all

Kids in rural places often go to school part-time

They are often required to do work part-time, so there will be 12-year-olds in 2nd grade who are illiterate. There is a large range of the level of education of children.

We will work with Zach to determine the kids we should work with

Many volunteers in Bababé are teachers: they teach English, health, and environmental education. We can work with them to incorporate their teachings into our program.

One of the most useful things to people is internet access:

People can look up practical information like nutrition information of the animals.

During the summer, local teachers will probably be elsewhere in the country (where their family is)

Want to have Mauritanians as involved as possible

Electricity and Power

Installed 2 diesel generators 6 months ago

Electricity is only available from noon to midnight

Major fluctuations in power --> Need regulators (220V)

Should buy regulators in Nouakchott, Mauritania (heavy and inconvenient to fly over)

They are still installing lines: costs 20,000 um to install a new line to a house

Health Information

Impact

From an international development expert: the belief that we should focus on food and water for the communities before education is a very western, slightly condescending thought. The internet and the sheer quantity of information we can bring to the community will have unexpected benefits (social, economical, personal, etc.) even if they don't yet have the infrastructure to make the most impact possible.

Look at places like India and China--internet in rural communities.

Rural communities will utilize this information very creatively

Nigeria--mobile phones are used in very unexpected ways (text messages about fishing conditions, for example)

Internet

To make use of the free satellite internet made available by World Vision, we will have to set up our own wireless routers to propogate the signal.

Living

Accomodations

Can stay with volunteers

However should still provide some sort of financial support: 15,000um

Clothing

Dress like the locals

Long sleeves and long pants

We will need to buy clothes there

Ladies: wrap skirts

Material is sold in 6 m length (<2000 um, $8-10)

One wrap skirt takes 2 m. 1 shirt takes $2 to make

$6 to make full outfit (tailoring), which takes 6 m of material

Don't have to wear veil in Pulaar area, since it's obvious we're foreigners.

Shirts: 2 m. $2-4 to make. $4-5 to make guy's button-down.

Guys wear khaki, grey, black pants

Volunteers typically own 2/3 outfits, can wear each 2-3x before washing.